Brisbane’s Open Doors Youth Service has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Suncorp’s Community Giving Program.
Open Doors’ Jelly Beans program was started in 2010 and is a social support group designed for transgender, gender variant and gender queer young people, aged under 24.
General Manager Pam Barker said Open Doors was very grateful to Suncorp for the support.
“Jelly Beans primarily exists to support and minimise a range of issues that our young people suffer,” she said.
“We also aim to minimise homelessness by catching young people before they become homeless and attempt to reconnect them with their family.”
Ms Barker said of the youth who took part in the Jelly Beans program, 36 percent had suffered from depression and 30 percent had had suicidal thoughts.
She said Open Doors relied on the generosity of companies like Suncorp to fund the Jelly Beans program.
“Since Jelly Beans began, demand for this program has grown significantly and it’s needed in our community now more than ever,” she said.
The funds provided by Suncorp pays for project facilitators and social workers along with material costs of running Jelly Beans group drop in sessions.
For more information about Open Doors Youth Service or to get in touch, visit the website here.
